iceicepenguin
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posted on March 14, 2004 11:36:54 AM new
Ok, I have now burnt out two cameras in less than two years. One a Nikon and the latest a Kodak. The Nikon lasted about 13 months. The Kodak about four.
When I say burnt out, I mean literally. Both just burned up.
As any of you that sell a lot of product know, some days you take a boatload of pictures. I use my camera everyday. Use an adaptor and not batteries.
I realize that these cameras are probably not manufactured with Ebay sellers in mind, but three months??
I am now depressed and frustrated. Of course, I have to send the camera to Kodak and who knows how long it will take them to make a decision. I hate to borrow a camera and put all the use on it.
I would appreciate advice from anyone on cameras. Is there a reasonably price industrial strength camera out there? I don't need bells and whistles. Just a dependable camera that takes good clean pictures for Ebay use. Something that can hold up under continuous use.
Thanks in advance for any advice or help....
Gerri
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stopwhining
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posted on March 14, 2004 11:43:13 AM new
if you will tell us which kodak and which nikon models you were using,may be we can help you.
and how many pictures are boatload of pictures>>
-sig file -------the lobster in the boiling pot of water who tries to prevent the others from climbing out.
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dadofstickboy
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posted on March 14, 2004 11:43:53 AM new
I've had a Sony Mavica for 4 years now.
Batt. is starting to get weak, other than that no troubles ever.
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Vickrose
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posted on March 14, 2004 11:44:44 AM new
I bought a Kodak Easyshare Camera from CompUSA and they have warranty that if they can't fix they will replace. Also Best Buy has it too. CompUSA gave me a free 2 yr plan so I would buy it. It is worth it on your next camera
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iceicepenguin
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posted on March 14, 2004 11:56:06 AM new
Hello All,
I purchased the Kodak Easy Share this time. And yes, I got the additional coverage for replacement, but first they will attempt to repair it and then if it can't be, replace it. That still leaves me without a camera for quite awhile.
The Nikon was a Coolpix.
I sell all different things. I average about three pics per item. If I do something like baskets, I take 6 - 8 pics per item. If I post 20 items for that day I easily take between 60-100 pics counting the ones that I reject and retake.
Gerri
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cta
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posted on March 14, 2004 12:01:42 PM new
I use a Pentax Optio 330 and have used it for well over a year with no problems at all. I love my Optio!
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Libra63
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posted on March 14, 2004 12:08:22 PM new
I have a sony mavica and have had it about 3 years and my battery is just fine. It still charges 2 hours. I wish I would have bought two when I had the chance but of course I didn't think of it.
Dad. Do you let the battery wear down most the way before you charge it? I leave about 20 minutes on mine then I recharge. I know this has nothing to do with cameras but we had a battery powered x-ray machine and we were told not to recharge until the battery was very low. Can you still buy batteries for the Mavica?
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iceicepenguin
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posted on March 14, 2004 12:08:31 PM new
dadofstick and cta - how many pics do you take and do you use batteries or an adaptor?
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sanmar
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posted on March 14, 2004 12:10:49 PM new
I have an Olympus that is 5 yrs. old Never a proble,=m. I also use an AC/DC adapter that I got at Radio Shack. You can set the voltage to suit your camera from 3 to 6.5 SVDC & 2.5 Amps. Radio Shack Ac adapter #273-1695.
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iceicepenguin
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posted on March 14, 2004 12:14:03 PM new
Hello Sanmar,
My adaptor is adjustable also. My husband thought perhaps it was a surge problem, but I redid my Ebay work area and the first camera had a different adaptor and was plugged into a different outlet, so I don't think that's the problem.
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dadofstickboy
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posted on March 14, 2004 12:15:58 PM new
Libra63:
I always let the batt go dead before recharging.
Now a days it only does about 10 pics before going dead.
Yes I can still get new Batt's.
iceicepenguin:
I take anywhere from 20 to 100 pics a week.
I also take with me when I travel.
I use it for every thing now a days.
It came with one Batt and that's the one I'm still using.
And NO I've never used an adapter.
Would be a good idea though.
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Libra63
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posted on March 14, 2004 12:31:39 PM new
iceicepenguin. The Sony Mavica that I have has a floppy disc so there is no downloading of images to your computer. They don't make them anymore and I am happy I have it. I did have one that I had to down load and burned out lithium batteries all the time. I then got smart and switched to an AC Adapter. I even used the adapter to take pictures when it was handy.
Dad mine takes a lot. Probably 100. I haven't counted but I can do many auctions and I take about 4 pictures to an auction.
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iceicepenguin
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posted on March 14, 2004 12:45:54 PM new
Actually, I found that downloading from my camera was taking too much time. I have a San Disk reader that I use. I take the digital card out of the camera and pop it into the reader.
Bring up Picture It and I review, reduce and then save on CDRW. Then I upload from there to Vendio when I'm ready for the pics. Goes very fast and easier then docking the camera and adding new software to my computer.
Plus, this way I can work ahead and not store the pics on my hard drive or buy multiple digi cards which are expensive.
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lindajean
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posted on March 14, 2004 12:52:09 PM new
I have a Sony Mavica that uses floppies or memory stick. The 126 memory stick will store 780 pics. I usually take about 500 at a time and then work from that until I am caught up and take more. I gave up on floppies when I saw how easy it was to upload from the memory stick. I have an external 40 gig drive and just store them there.
I have had it for over 2 years and no problems. I had two other Sony Mavica's. One I bought in 1998 when I started on Ebay and the other in 2000 so my husband would have one for his business.
All are still working. I did have to buy 2 new batteries when I gave the older one to my daughter.
For me, Sony is the best digital camera made My husband has dropped his, taken pictures in 120 degree heat here in Vegas and damp cold mornings too. It still works great
I have probably taken over 20,000 photo's with my first one And, my daughter still takes about 50 a week with it.
Edited to add: The Sony's are a bit pricey. I paid over 500 for each of mine but you can get one for only $199 now.
[ edited by lindajean on Mar 14, 2004 12:54 PM ]
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dadofstickboy
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posted on March 14, 2004 01:33:53 PM new
Libra63:
Mine used to take a lot too.
But as I say the Batt. is not much good anymore.
A new Batt. and it will work fine.
Also have the floppy,it's great.
Thinking of the new CD ones, awfull pricey and appear to be quite large in size.
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max40
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posted on March 14, 2004 01:47:29 PM new
My Mavica is starting to get cranky after 3 years, but still works, and I love it. Floppys and a great manual macro mode. Easy to use, and can run on ac when the battery is dead.
Life is not a dress rehearsal
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sparkz
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posted on March 14, 2004 01:50:23 PM new
Your problem in both cases was most likely a fracture on the pc board or a pulled loose solder pad in the area of the ac adaptor jack which touched something and caused a dead short. That is the weakest part of any digital camera and the only point which experiences stress from outside the case. You need to get two sets of rechargeable ni-mh batteries and use them for photographing and use that adaptor only if you are uploading. The adaptor jack cannot take the strain put on it by the constant movement and weight of that cord from the adaptor. Rechargeable batteries for a Kodak are dirt cheap and with two pairs, you will always have a fresh set.
The light at the end of the tunnel will turn out to be an oncoming train.
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dadofstickboy
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posted on March 14, 2004 01:54:57 PM new
In my book Sony & Panisonic are leaders in Electronics.
It would stand to reason the would make top Electronic cameras or anything else.
The others Nikon,Canon,Kodak etc. are great camera companies.
But not Electronics.
If I was buying a film camera I wouldn't go to a Electronics store.
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iceicepenguin
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posted on March 14, 2004 01:56:20 PM new
Thanks for the information Sparkz!
Next question though is this - Is there a camera out there with an adaptor cord that isn't quite so heavy and is made for heavy use with the cord in place? Or is there a corded only type of digital camera?
I have to assume that digitals are used in many business applications where they are in constant use and batteries would not be practical.
[ edited by iceicepenguin on Mar 14, 2004 02:01 PM ]
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stopwhining
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posted on March 14, 2004 02:46:43 PM new
what do you sell that you need to take 100 pictures a day>>
have you considered a scanner??
you can go to bestbuy or walmart and see the camera for sale,they are pretty much sony,nikon,olympus,kodak,etc.
you really need to see and hold the camera to see how you like it,besides whether it is corded or battery driven.
i upgrade from sony mavica to nikon coolpix,the pictures are much better but i dont like the way i hold the camera.a camera shop will let you hold it and pratice it and answer your questions,as long as you let them know you will eventually buy from them,they dont mind you spending all the time in their store trying out.
if a scanner works for you,that will be better,you can sit by your desk and scan all day without getting out of your chair.
-sig file -------the lobster in the boiling pot of water who tries to prevent the others from climbing out.
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neglus
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posted on March 14, 2004 03:32:43 PM new
I don't use it for eBay (I sit in my chair and scan all day), but I love my Olympus..and the best part is that it uses 2 AA rechargeable batteries..can recharge 4 at a time so you have a spare set and you could even have an extra 4 recharging while you are shooting.
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sparkz
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posted on March 14, 2004 03:35:02 PM new
Ice...The adaptor supplies about 2 amps to the camera so I wouldn't use a smaller guage cord than what you have or you could wind up with more smoke. Other than switching to batteries, the only way I could think of to lessen the stress at that point would be a strain relief clamp mounted near the plug. There is a threaded hole available for a tripod on the bottom. You may want to try to devise something with a tripod mounting shoe (the portion of a tripod that stays with a vcr for quick mounting and unmounting). If Yisgood happens to drop by, I'm sure he could suggest something.
The light at the end of the tunnel will turn out to be an oncoming train.
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iceicepenguin
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posted on March 14, 2004 04:03:18 PM new
Eureka Sparkz,
I think you may be on to something. I was trying to come up with some idea to secure the wire at the point of entry, but maybe the answer is to set up a tripod and mount the camera on it and then secure the wire to the tripod to relieve the weight. This would also lessen the amount of twist and turn.
I have a drafting type table that can tip up with a lip so I can take top and bottom shots that way.
Thank you. Thank you!
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lindajean
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posted on March 14, 2004 04:55:16 PM new
I sell postcards and need 100 photo's a day (which is why I take 500 at a time). I use a small table top tripod to mount my Sony on and keep it plugged in while I work.
But, I don't have to move it like I did I was selling larger items
As far as scanning goes, I can take 500 pics in about 2 1/2 hours. It would take 2 1/2 days for me scan 500 And, I don't have to crop them, just center the postcard in my view finder. I put stand them up straight to get a straight on photo and I'm all ready to go.
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shagmidmod
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posted on March 14, 2004 05:06:38 PM new
SONY!!!!! SONY!!!! SONY!!!
I'm a photographer as well as using it to sell on ebay, and can say that my Sony DSC-S85 was the best Digital camera I have purchased.
My 6 Reasons for Choosing this Camera
#1) Easy to use - very similar to my Canon 35mm SLR
#2) Glass Lens by Carl Zeiss - Very Important! I never get flare rings, or worry about scratching the lens when i clean it. This saves hours and hours of editing to remove those ugly flare rings.
#3) 2.8 f stop for superior low lighting images. if you shoot in less than ideal lighting, this is important. I paid over $700 to get a 35mm lens to get me down to 2.8 f stops, and this digital comes with it already!
#4) White Balance control - best for accurate color photos true to the image.
#5) Easy to hold. Most people forget that it is important that the camera fits well, and this had a grip similar to an SLR camera so you don't drop it.
#6) DURABILITY - My camera still looks brand new, has worked for 2.5 years and the battery is still holding strong.
One Problem... They don't make this model any longer, though you can still find them new on ebay, in the back of photo magazines, and some camera shops for a good deal.
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jwwrs
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posted on March 14, 2004 05:40:49 PM new
Sony Mavica FD-88 here.
No issues whatsoever.
Great camera for ebay or otherwise.
Two years and going strong.
[ edited by jwwrs on Mar 14, 2004 05:42 PM ]
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